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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of May 1, 2017

Information & Announcements

  • Make an Appointment!
  • Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshops
  • Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls
  • Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews Available Through the CSO
  • Free ABA Memberships for Students
  • Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Summer 2017 - Extending application deadline for Summer 1 to May 9

Fall Recruiting

  • Mark Your Calendar - Fall Recruiting Important Dates

Programming

  • May 10: Women Employed Fundraiser Gala - The Working Lunch (Volunteers needed)
  • May 12-13: City of Chicago Department of Law Practical Deposition Training (Volunteer witnesses needed)
  • May 16 (rescheduled from May 9): Conquering the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program
  • May 18: 36th Annual Federal Tax Institute Update
  • June 22: PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception

Employment Opportunities

  • CK-Law Group Legal Clinics - Now accepting Summer 2017 applications
  • Institute for Science, Law and Technology Research Assistant - Applications accepted on a rolling basis until May 12
  • Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) - Still Accepting Summer 2017 Applications!
  • Access2Practice Legal Externship Program - Applications due May 8

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship - Applications available on May 15
  • Gordon Law Group Essay Scholarship - Applications due June 1
  • Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for (Rising) 2Ls - Accepting applications starting June 1
  • 2018 Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship - Applications due June 16

Job Fairs  

  • May 5-6: 3rd Annual Veterans' Legal Career Fair
  • July 18: National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair - Registration deadline is July 1
  • July 29: 13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair (San Francisco, CA) - Registration opens May 22
  • August 4-5: 13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair - Early bird registration ends May 26
  • August 11: Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair - Registration deadline is May 19
  • August 14-15: 2017 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair - Registration deadline is July 1
  • September 8: 2017 HNBA Career Fair - Registration available on August 1

Diversity

  • Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship - Applications available on May 15
  • Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for 2Ls - Accepting applications starting June 1
  • 2018 Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship - Applications due June 16
  • PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception - June 22
  • National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair - July 18: Registration deadline is July 1
  • 13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair (San Francisco, CA) - July 29: Registration opens May 22
  • 2017 HNBA Career Fair - September 8: Registration available on August 1
  • 13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair - August 4-5: Early bird registration ends May 26
  • Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair - August 11: Registration deadline is May 19
  • IndyBar Diversity Job Fair - August 14-15: 2017: Registration deadline is July 1

Resources

  • Government Honors & Internship Handbook & Public Policy Handbook: log-in now available
  • 2016-2017 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide
  • 2016-2017 Chicago Area Law Firms List
  • Equal Justice Works’ Student Debt E-Book: Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt
  • ABA Student Loan Best Practices in the Face of Political Change
  • ABA Law Student Podcast: Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  • CareerShift
  • Practising Law Institute (PLI)
  • CBA YLS Webinar - Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp 
  • CSO Resources
  • Chicago Bar Association Career Center

Information & Announcements

Make an Appointment!

If you are a 1L student and you have not yet met with your Career Advisor, please come in to do so and to have your resume reviewed and begin to develop a job search strategy. Appointments are mandatory.

If you are a 2L/3L/4L and you have not come in yet this school year, please make an appointment to meet with your Career Advisor to discuss your job search status and plans. Thank you!

Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

The MANDATORY 1L Legal Resume Workshop and 1L Cover Letter Workshop videos are now available to view. Sign in to Panopto using your kentlaw username and password.

All first-year law students must watch these brief videos. These workshops include detailed instructions for how to draft your legal resume and cover letter.

First-year law students should schedule an initial appointment with their career advisor. Before your first career advising appointment, you must have watched the workshop videos and have uploaded a legal resume to Symplicity. Please also bring a copy of your legal resume to your first appointment.

Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls

Each 2L and 3L student is required to meet with his or her assigned career advisor by the end of this fall semester. For those of you interested in applying to larger federal government agencies with early deadlines (e.g. the Department of Justice), or considering participation in the fall public interest job fair Equal Justice Works, we strongly recommend that you schedule this meeting as soon as possible!

Given the difficult market it is more important than ever that you check in with your career advisor to form a strategy to accomplish your career goals. Please bring your most recent, updated legal resume with you to your meeting with your career advisor.

Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews Available Through the CSO

The Career Services Office is available to review student resumes and cover letters, and to conduct mock interviews, to help you better prepare for a variety of opportunities! If you have an upcoming interview, please consider scheduling a mock interview with your Career Services counselor. You can schedule an appointment directly through Symplicity! If you have questions about how to schedule an appointment, please email the Career Services Office at kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu.

Free ABA Memberships for Students

The American Bar Association offers free memberships to all students enrolled in law school. The membership grants law students access to resources tailored to their interests and needs, opportunities to build their professional skills plus access to the ABA’s job listings, clerkships, internships and career events.

You can enroll here - http://www.americanbar.org/abalawstudents.

Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Summer 2017 - Extending application deadline for Summer 1 to May 9

Chicago-Kent will have Community-Based Federal Work Study available during Summer 2017. Chicago-Kent students who are Federal Work Study eligible may be paid though Federal Work Study funds to work at government and public interest organizations outside of the law school. Please visit the Chicago-Kent Community-Based Federal Work Study webpage for a more detailed explanation of this opportunity, as well as the form you need to complete in order to participate. Forms are due in the Career Services Office by Tuesday, May 9th 2017 for Summer 1, starting work on Monday, May 22nd, and will be accepted on an ongoing basis for Summer 2, starting work on July 1 or later. Processing time may take a week or more; allow plenty of time for approval of your application, and the time it takes to be added to the Chicago-Kent payroll. Please e-mail Michelle Vodenik (mvodenik@kentlaw.iit.edu) with any questions.           

Fall Recruiting

Mark Your Calendar - Fall Recruiting Important Dates

  • Monday, June 5, 2017Resume Reviews begin. All first-time program participants must have a mandatory resume review by a Career Advisor.  Students who participated in the program last year are not required to have a resume review but are encouraged to do so. OCI resume reviews end at 12:00pm, Friday, June 30th. All resumes must be reviewed and uploaded by 12:00pm on June 30th.  We advise sending your resume via email or making an appointment in June or early July, as appointments tend to fill up fast later in the summer.
  • Monday, June 5, 2017Information on employers participating in Fall Recruiting will be available on Symplicity. To see lists of On-Campus Interview (OCI), Resume Collect and Direct Contact employers, select the “Resources” tab, then “Document Library” and search for “2017 Fall Recruiting.” These lists will contain information regarding application documents to be submitted, hiring eligibility requirements (e.g. class rank) and on-campus interview dates.
  • Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 12:00pm and 5:30pm, Room CK590: Mandatory Fall Recruiting Program (required for all first-time participants) This mandatory Fall Recruiting Program will provide information regarding registration requirements and participating employers. If you plan to participate in Fall Recruiting, you must attend one of these sessions. 
  • Friday, June 30, 2017 at 12:00pm: Resume Reviews end. All first-time program participants must have a mandatory resume review by a Career Advisor. All resumes must be reviewed and uploaded to Symplicity by 12:00pm on June 30th.
  • Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at 12:00pm: Bidding system will be open for student bid entry. Students may begin bidding on interviews with employers in Symplicity for OCI and Resume Collect employers.
  • Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 12:00pm: Deadline for Fall Recruiting Program computer bidding, uploading of required application materials to Symplicity, and turning in all hard copy materials to the CSO. The CSO will close at 12:00pm on this date.
  • Thursday, July 13, 2017: The CSO will be closed for processing OCI resumes and interview schedules.
  • July 31-August 4, 2017: Mock Interviews will be available. Sign-ups will be managed online; more information will be available at the June 6th program. 
  • Friday, August 4, 2017: Student interview schedules will be available for viewing online.
  • Monday, August 7, 2017: On-Campus Interviews begin.

Programming        

Women Employed Fundraiser Gala - The Working Lunch (Volunteers needed)

Date:  Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency Chicago: 151 E. Upper Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL., 60601

Since 1973, Women Employed has been leading the fight to make work work by mobilizing people and organizations to expand employment and educational opportunities for ALL working women. We believe that all working people deserve fair pay, respectful working conditions, and opportunities to advance.

Women Employed’s upcoming annual fundraising gala, The Working Lunch, brings together over a thousand supporters, advocates, business leaders, and public officials with one common cause: to improve the lives of working women. Please contact Amanda Collins via email or telephone for more information and to RSVP at acollins@womenemployed.org or 312-782-3902, extension 223.

Volunteers are needed to help support this important event—which provides Women Employed with the critical funds that advance its work. Varying shifts, ranging from 8 – 9 a.m. start and 12 - 2 p.m. end times. Volunteers can select to assist with registration, greeting, ballroom set-up, raffle sales, and/or raffle ticket processing. To RSVP to volunteer for The Working Lunch, please email your completed registration form to Amanda at acollins@womenemployed no later than Friday, April 28, 2017.

City of Chicago Department of Law Practical Deposition Training - May 12-13, 2017

(Volunteer witnesses needed)
Location: City Hall (121 N. LaSalle Street)

The City of Chicago Department of Law (DoL) is seeking up to 20 law students to assist with assistant corporation counsel deposition training. The lawsuit is a civil rights case for damages arising from alleged racial profiling that resulted in a traffic stop. Students will observe substantive and practical deposition training. They will also have an unprecedented opportunity to network with DoL attorneys. Students will utilize their acting skills as witnesses. The student witnesses will be given summaries of witness testimony and will then be examined by the attorneys in the training. Senior attorneys will be instructors giving comments and critiques. 

The general time blocks are below, and students can serve for as much or as little time as they would like – e.g., 1 or more time block(s) or the entire 2 days. 

*Friday, 5/12/17
9 am-12 noon fact witness #1
1 pm-4 pm fact witness #2

*Saturday, 5/13/17
9 am-12 noon expert witness #1
1 pm-4 pm expert witness #2

Student witnesses should arrive at least 15 minutes before their time slots. Materials will be provided in advance and will include a summary of deposition testimony, a couple of exhibits and, for the expert witnesses, a CV and report – none of which are particularly lengthy.

If interested, please send an email stating your interest, availability, and cell phone number to Steffanie Garrett, Deputy Corporation Counsel, Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division (Steffanie.Garrett@cityofchicago.org) no later than 5pm on Monday, 4/17/17

Conquering the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program

Date: Friday, May 16, 2017
Time: 5:30 am - 7:30 pm
Location: MBHB Conference Area (300 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606)

MBHB’s Recruiting Committee, “PINK” group and the Committee for Diversity & Inclusion will share their first-hand experience, real life stories and best tips for navigating and being successful at the Patent Law Interview Program. They will also address how scientists and engineers fit into the world of IP Law, as well as the unique challenges women and diverse candidates face, and provide valuable advice on how to turn your summer position into an associate offer!

If you wish to attend, please RSVP by May 5 to Mary DeMoss at demoss@mbhb.com.

May 18: 36th Annual Federal Tax Institute Update

Date: Thursday, May 18, 2017
Time: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Montreal Quebec, Canada

What did the first 100 days look like? What regulations are now vulnerable? What’s coming down the pipeline? You will have personal access to nationally recognized tax advisors who provide a comprehensive update on the cutting-edge legal, legislative, and policy developments that impact tax planning, compliance, and controversy techniques.
 
Schedule:

7:30 a.m. | Registration begins 
8:20 a.m. | Program begins 
5:40 p.m. | Networking reception 

Visit the program website for more information and to register online.

PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception

Date: Thursday, June 22, 2017
Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (reception to follow)
Location: Jenner & Block (353 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL)

PracticePro has partnered with the Chicago Committee to bring its popular Career Conference to Chicago!  

This Conference is for all law students - 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs. Join PracticePro to learn the skills necessary to excel in your summer clerkships and get your career started on the right foot. For topics, speakers, and registration information, visit the website at http://www.practicepro.cc/2017-career-conferences.

Employment Opportunities

Please check Chicago-Kent's job posting system ("Symplicity") on a regular basis. Check out Symplicity's general instructions for more information.

CK-Law Group Legal Clinics - Now accepting Summer 2017 applications

Did you know there is a law firm right here at Chicago-Kent?  It is called C-K Law Group.  Not only can students take this as a course and earn credits but can also gain real work experience, create networking opportunities and many students even get opportunities to work directly with clients.  

There are a limited number of spots available, which will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.  Below are the different clinical experiences we offer.  While not all of these clinics have an opening, you can still apply and go onto a waiting list.
Here are the current offerings:

  • Criminal Defense 
  • Vaccine Injury/Federal Court Litigation
  • Plaintiffs Employment Law
  • Civil Litigation
  • Entrepreneurial Law
  • Family Law
  • Tax Law
  • Mediation
  • Intellectual Property
  • Center for Open Government

Summer 2017 Applications:  Applications are now available for the Summer 2017 semester in the reception area of Suite 600, outside of the 3rd floor elevators and here.  For more information, please visit the C-K Law Group homepage. If you wish to apply or have any questions, email Tracy Kish at tkish@kentlaw.iit.edu

Institute for Science, Law and Technology Research Assistant - Applications accepted until May 12, 2017

Professor Lori Andrews, Director of the Institute for Science, Law and Technology (ISLAT) at Chicago-Kent College of Law, is currently hiring law students as Research Assistants to work during the summer of 2017. ISLAT is undertaking numerous projects to investigate the legal and societal implications of mobile health apps, genetic privacy, and predictive policing.

Research Assistants will be responsible for conducting research and drafting memos on a variety of topics, including gamification, 21st century privacy, geotracking, bioethics, health care proposals, and genetics. Applicants will be accepted from varied undergraduate backgrounds and must have strong writing and research skills. Applicants must submit a cover letter, writing sample, and resume via email to:
 mgoodyear@kentlaw.iit.edu. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until May 12, 2017, so apply early!

Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) - Still Accepting Summer 2017 Applications!

PILI summer 2017 internships are still open to law students from any ABA accredited law school in the United States. There are 27 agencies approved to host PILI Interns, and you can apply to up to 10 of them.

PILI’s Law Student Internship Program connects law students with public interest law agencies in Illinois. Interns work 400 hours during the summer with PILI ensuring quality supervision by experienced attorneys and providing supplemental educational, networking and mentoring opportunities. The result is an increase in the capacity of these legal service agencies to meet the needs of their low-income clients and an increase in the number of emerging lawyers connected and committed to public interest law. Currently, internship placements are offered in Chicago, Alton, Champaign, Peoria and Rock Island, Illinois.

PILI Interns gain hands-on, practical work experience providing legal services directly to clients or engaging in the tasks associated with advocacy, impact-litigation, policy development and analysis, or other related legal work. Interns are paid $5,500 for their work during the summer.  In order to apply for the PILI stipend, all applicants must go through the online application system. To apply, click here.

Access2Practice Legal Externship Program - Applications due May 8

Access2Practice Legal Externship Program (LEP) is a 4-credit hour non-graded program which enables you to extern with a supervising attorney in a wide variety of legal areas – private or public, civil or criminal. Externships are available for the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Some public sector externships enable you to obtain a 711 license and appear in court.

Summer Access2Practice LEP

Summer Access2Practice LEP differs from Fall/Spring LEP in that summer students have a greater choice of placements. Whereas Fall and Spring placements are almost exclusively in the public and not-for-profit areas, Summer LEP includes a significant number of private placements in law firms and in-house corporate legal departments. These private placements are supervised by designated alums, and both the alum teaching supervisors and placements have been screened and approved by the Chicago-Kent Faculty Externship Screening Committee specifically for this program.

As of Monday, February 20, Symplicity will post many Summer LEP placement opportunities for which you can apply. Please scroll to Access2Practice: Private Summer for these special opportunities. The applications to the participating member placements will be submitted through a centralized data base. Each teaching attorney/placement then independently screens and selects its own extern(s).

Application Process:

Information and application packets for Summer 2017 are available in the Law Offices reception area (Room 600), in the Career Services Office, on the table by the third-floor elevators, and online. Applications to register for the A2P Legal Externship Summer 2017 must be submitted to Professor Gross no later than Monday, May 8, 2017.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship - Applications available on May 15

Ropes & Gray has long been a proponent of law firm inclusion and diversity, with a dedicated mission to attract and retain outstanding lawyers of varied backgrounds. To further promote inclusion and diversity within the legal profession, the firm created the Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship, named after our beloved retired partner. Mr. Trimmier was the firm’s first African American partner and a leader of our efforts.

This scholarship provides a $25,000 award to up to five outstanding second-year law students to offset the expenses of their legal education, and includes a paid summer associate position following completion of the second year of law school. The funds will be paid out half upon completion of the summer program, and half upon starting as a full-time associate at the firm.

The application process for the summer of 2018 will be open from May 15 through August 31, 2017. For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit https://www.ropesgray.com/diversityscholarship.

Gordon Law Group Essay Scholarship - Applications due June 1, 2017

Gordon Law Group is offering one $1,500 scholarship to an undergraduate or law school student of need who submits the best essay (maximum 500 words) addressing the following topic: Should the federal income tax code be changed to a flat tax of 18% with no deductions so that every person pays the same tax rate? The scholarship is open to any US citizen or permanent US resident who will be enrolled full-time in an accredited community college, college or university, or accredited law school in the fall of 2017.

For application requirements and to apply, visit https://www.gordonlawltd.com/gordon-law-group-scholarship/. Essay submissions are due by June 1, 2017.

Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for (Rising) 2Ls - Accepting applications starting June 1, 2017

Bringing diversity and inclusiveness into every aspect of our work and culture is one of Bryan Cave’s core values. As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Bryan Cave is pleased to sponsor a diversity scholarship program awarded to up to four rising second-year law students. Each recipient will receive a $10,000 scholarship to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses during the student’s final year of law school. Half of the scholarship will be paid after successful completion of Bryan Cave’s Summer Associate Program. The second half of the scholarship will be paid prior to the second semester of the recipient’s third year of law school, providing they have received and accepted an offer to join Bryan Cave as an associate following the completion of their legal education.

For qualification requirements and to access the application, please visit https://www.bryancave.com/en/careers/diversity-scholarship-program.html. Applicants should submit their materials to Chief Legal Recruiting & Development Officer Tom Grewe at tom.grewe@bryancave.com
between June 1 and August 31, 2017.

2018 Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship - Applications due June 16 

Baker Donelson is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where the individual differences among us are understood, respected, appreciated, and recognized as sources of strength of the Firm. These qualities enrich the environment in which we work. With this in mind, Baker Donelson will again award three scholarships to diverse law students who will complete their first year of law school by June 2017. Recipients will be awarded a six-week, salaried 2L Summer Associate position for the summer of 2018 in one of our Firm’s offices.  Additionally, each recipient will be awarded $10,000 which will be paid prior to the student's third year of law school to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses. The application deadline is June 16, 2017.

For complete eligibility criteria, instructions, and to apply for the Scholarship Program please visit:
http://www.bakerdonelson.com/diversity-scholarship-diversity-practices/

Please do not hesitate to contact Helen Beasley with questions at hbeasley@bakerdonelson.com.    

Job Fairs

National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair -Registration deadline is July 1

The 2017 National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair will take place on Tuesday, July 18th at the Westin Cleveland Downtown, Cleveland Ohio.  EARLY REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! The registration and fee schedule is as follows:

  • Early registration fee (March 1 - April 30): $25.00 for law students and 2017 law school graduates; $50.00 for experienced attorneys 
  • Regular registration fee (May 1 - June 24): $50.00 for law students and 2017 law school graduates; $75.00 for experienced attorneys. On
  • Late registration fee (June 25 - July 1): $100 for law students and the class of 2017, and $150.00 for experienced attorneys.

Registration closes on July 1st. All Job fair participants can mail in their payment, registration form and resume or go to the NBPA website at http://blackprosecutors.org/annual-conference and register online. 

If lodging is needed, the Hilton Ballpark has extended a special Job Fair room rate of $134.00 per night for a single or double occupancy rooms.  To make reservations, interviewees should call the Westin Cleveland Downtown at (314) 421-1776.  Please note that the Westin Cleveland Downtown will not accept reservations under the NBPA conference block of rooms at the discounted rate until you are a registered job fair participant, therefore; job fair participants must register for the Job Fair prior to making hotel reservations.  

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the NBPA by phone at (212)-335-4300 or email at NBPAJobFair2017@dany.nyc.gov.  Additional information about the NBPA and the conference is also available at www.blackprosecutors.org.

13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair (San Francisco, CA) - July 29, 2017

The Bay Area Diversity Career Fair attracts hiring representatives from the most prominent law firms, government legal departments, and nonprofit organizations. The career fair will be held at Hilton San Francisco Financial District (750 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA (map)). Only law students who have completed their first year of law school by the time of the interviews are eligible to participate. Openings are for 2018 2L summer associate positions.

Registration begins on Monday, May 22, 2017. The registration site can be found here. The registration and bidding deadline is Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

A welcome reception for registered students and employers will be held on Friday, July 28 at 6:00 p.m. at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (The Orrick Building, 405 Howard Street, San Francisco (map)).

For questions, please contact:
Elizabeth McGriff
Bay Area Diversity Career Fair Project Manager
registration@orrick.com

August 3-4: 2017 Patent Law Interview Program

Date: Thursday-Friday, August 3-4, 2017
Time: Various
Location: Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown/Lakefront (511 N. Columbus Dr.)

Loyola University Chicago School of law is hosting this year’s nationwide Patent Law Interview Program. The program will be accepting registrations from JD students graduating in May/June of 2018 or 2019, December/January of 2018 or 2019, and students in Intellectual Property LLM programs with anticipated graduation dates in 2018 and 2019.

Last year roughly 150 employers, 190 law schools, and 1,200 law students from across the country participated in the program. The program is entirely pre-selected, which means that students submit resumes and transcripts to bid on interviews with the employers they are interested in, and employers then review the materials of the students who bid on them and select the students they wish to interview at the program. Last year, approximately half of the participating students were selected for interviews. For more information on the program, please refer to the Loyola Patent Program website at: http://www.luc.edu/law/career/patent_students.html.

Registration is now closed. Once registered, the program staff will communicate with you directly via email. Please direct any questions about the program to Jayne Schreiber, the Patent Program Liaison in Kent’s Career Services Office, via email to jschrei3@kentlaw.iit.edu.

13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair - Early bird registration ends May 26

Date: Saturday, August 4 through Sunday, August 5, 2017
Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (2300 Main St #100, Kansas City, MO 64108)

The 13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF) will be held August 4-5, 2017, in Kansas City, Missouri.  Students who are interested in becoming part of Kansas City’s dynamic legal community should strongly consider attending this event.  Students who will be returning to school in August and those graduating in May are eligible to attend the job fair, as employers will be interviewing for both summer and post-graduate positions.

The HDLJF is the result of Kansas City's leading law firms, legal associations, and corporate legal departments coming together to encourage law students to practice law in Kansas City.  The HDLJF is designed to expose law students of diverse backgrounds to both traditional and non-traditional legal employers.  In addition, the event is a great way to learn more about living in this wonderful city.

The HDLJF will be held at the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association headquarters.  It will kick off with an evening Welcome Reception on Friday, August 4th at the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.  The Saturday schedule includes a continental breakfast, interviewing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a luncheon at which participants will be greeted and addressed by a special Keynote Speaker.

Please register online as soon as possible.  Students who register before May 26th will be entered into a drawing for exciting prizes.  The final deadline for registering is June 23, 2017.

Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair - Registration deadline is May 19

The Cook County Bar Association (“CCBA”) is pleased to invite you to participate in the 34th Annual CCBA Minority Law Student Job Fair (“Job Fair”). In an effort to keep the student-to-employer ratio as low as possible, CCBA is only inviting JD students in the classes of 2019 (current 1Ls/rising 2Ls) and 2018 (current 2Ls/rising 3Ls). Please note that students graduating in any month prior to December 2017 (current 3Ls) are not eligible. 

This year’s Job Fair will be held on Friday, August 11, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note that the Job Fair will return to the Embassy Suites Chicago – Downtown/Lakefront, located at 511 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611. 

The Job Fair typically attracts more than 500 students from eligible U.S. law schools. Each year law firms, corporations, and governmental agencies register for the Job Fair. These employers are located primarily in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C. In addition, the Job Fair attracts several employers from Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

The Job Fair primarily is designed to obtain summer associate positions for rising 2Ls (current 1Ls) during their second summer in law school. A limited number of employers also wish to interview rising 3Ls (current 2Ls) for entry-level associate positions. Rising 3Ls should be aware that Job Fair interview slots for rising 2Ls typically outnumber those for rising 3Ls by a 4:1 ratio.

Registration is open from Monday, March 20, 2017 to Friday, May 19, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Please click here for more information and to register!

2017 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair - Registration deadline is July 1

The 10th annual Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair has a strong history of success. More than 650 students from 31 states and 82 law schools across the nation have interviewed over the last nine years. Annually, 20 percent of interviewing students have accepted job offers. This year, the job fair will be located at the Hilton Indianapolis, 120 W Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Over the course of 24 hours, there will be:

  • Numerous networking opportunities available for students through a reception, interviews and a luncheon
  • More than 25 firm, government, court and corporate legal employers conducting hundreds of interviews with students
  • A student workshop focusing on presenting oneself in interviews and social media

Employers participating in the job fair seek candidates who represent all aspects of diversity and who are looking for a one-of-a-kind legal community in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm. Fall 2017, full-time 2L law students (graduating May 2019) or part-time 2L and 3L law students (graduating 2019/2020) are encouraged to participate in the fair. For more information about the fair, visit http://www.ibadiversityjobfair.org/.

Registration for the IndyBar Diversity Job Fair opens Wednesday, March 1, 2017. To register, click here. Please note that first you will need to create a username and password to register and access the fair’s career services management system.

2017 HNBA Career Fair - Registration deadline is August 1

Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Kansas City Marriott Downtown Hotel

The HNBA Career Fair is open to all students and to attorneys looking to make contacts and lateral moves. This signature HNBA program will provide you with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and interview with some of the nation’s most respected law firms, companies, organizations and government agencies. The HNBA Career Fair is also a unique and cost-effective way to enter the workforce or advance your career. This year, the Career Fair will take place on Friday, September 8, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri.

If you would like to participate in the Career Fair, please register via the HNBA Registration Portal. Once you have paid for your registration, you will be contacted by Michelle Avelino, HNBA Programs & Administrative Coordinator, with instructions on how to set up your account with Symplicity.

The Career Fair participant registration deadline is August 1, 2017. For more information and to register, please visit https://hnba.com/2017-annual-convention/career-fair/. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Avelino at support@hnba.com.

Diversity

Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship - Applications available on May 15
(See above)

Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for 2Ls - Accepting applications starting June 1
(See above)

2018 Baker Donelson Diversity Scholarship - Applications due June 16 
(See above)

PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception
(See above)

National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair - July 18: Registration deadline is July 1
(See above)

13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair (San Francisco, CA) - July 29, 2017
(See above)

2017 HNBA Career Fair - Registration deadline is August 1
(See above)

13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair - Early bird registration ends May 26
August 4-5, 2017
(See above)

Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair - August 11: Registration deadline is May 19
(See above)

2017 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair - August 14-15: Registration deadline is July 1
(See above)

Resources

Government Honors & Internship Handbook and Public Policy Handbook: log-in now available

The Government Honors and Internship Handbook and the Public Policy Handbook are now available! To access the handbooks, use the link, login and password, which can be found in the Document Library in Symplicity. Note that many 3L/post-grad government honors program and 2L summer/semester internship program deadlines are very early in the semester; log in now to avoid missing an opportunity! 

2016-2017 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide

The 2016-2017 PSJD Fellowship Guide is an online compilation of post-graduate fellowships. To access the database and for information about how to effectively use the database, visit https://www.psjd.org/2016-2017_Comprehensive_Fellowship_Guide. Note that many fellowships have very early fall semester deadlines; 3Ls that are interested in applying for post-graduate fellowships should access the Guide now!

2016-2017 Chicago Area Law Firm List

The Chicago Area Law Firm List is a spreadsheet of the private sector law firms in the Chicagoland area with 4 or more attorneys. Students can use the list to identify firms that include their practice areas of interest. The Chicago Area Law Firm List can be found in the Symplicity Document Library, under the Resources tab.

Equal Justice Works’ Student Debt E-Book: Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt

Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt, is now available free on the EJW website.

Take Control of Your Future is a comprehensive guide to managing student debt, with chapters on understanding student loans and loan consolidation, planning before borrowing, income-driven repayment plans and a step-by-step guide to earning Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

ABA Student Loan Best Practices in the Face of Political Change

In today’s political climate, many questions surround the future of America’s student loan repayment programs. The current White House administration has put forth a number of proposals to change key aspects of the income-based repayment and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs. While it remains to be seen whether these changes will be adopted and passed by Congress, the next elected president is expected to have a significant impact on the future of student debt in America. The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have differing visions for federal student loan programs, which could have a significant impact on your repayment strategy.

In the ABA's Student Loan Best Practices in the Face of Political Change webinar, you'll learn:

  • What you should consider when choosing between federal loan programs and private student loan refinancing
  • How borrowers can save $20,200+ over the life of their loans on average by refinancing
  • How the current proposed changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income based repayment programs may affect your student loan repayment strategy

ABA Law Student Podcast: Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you plan to go into public service, you may have heard about public service loan forgiveness (PSLF for short). This economic incentive offers student loan forgiveness following a minimum period of service and on-time payments towards the borrower’s debt. The cost of this benefit is aimed at making public work more attractive.

In this extended two-segment episode of ABA Law Student Podcast, hosts Fabiani Duarte and Madison Burke interview Bryan Tyson, the executive director of the Georgia Public Defender Council and Jonathan Rapping, co-founder of Gideon’s Promise. 

In segment one, you will hear from Bryan about the debt to income gap, his organization’s survey of public defenders about PSLF, and the increased importance of public defenders outside the practice of law.

In segment two, you will hear from Jonathan about student debt’s barrier to public service, the lifelong commitment of student loans, and concerns about poor people not getting justice in the event of PSLF cuts or caps.

Listen now!   

CareerShift

Chicago-Kent has partnered with CareerShift to help with your job search needs. CareerShift is a one-stop search engine that allows users to search and review each and every job posting available (such as those on Monster, Indeed, all other job boards and company websites). In addition, users can search for jobs and save your searches, find and save a list of contacts, create resumes and cover letters, and put them together in a targeted e-mail or postal mail campaigns. Then you can track your responses from “Come in for an interview” to “You’re hired.”
With CareerShift you can:

  • Search every job listing, including job boards and company websites
  • Get inside contact information immediately, including email addresses, for millions of companies
  • Create and organize all of your documents
  • Confidentially market yourself
  • Remain focused and organized
  • Access your secure, private account from anywhere, anytime, 24/7

Log in to Symplicity for the link and password to access CareerShift (search “CareerShift” in the Document Library).

Practising Law Institute (PLI)

Practising Law Institute (PLI) invites law students to attend most of its live CLE programs, or view its live or archived Webcasts, for free, on scholarship (see PLI’s student scholarship form). They are all great sources of cutting-edge, practice-oriented content, and the live programs are terrific networking opportunities.

CBA YLS Webinar - Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp

All law students are welcome to register for the webinar of Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp, sponsored by The Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section’s Law Student and Professional Responsibility Committees.

The webinar includes a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about applying to and studying for the Illinois Bar and the character and fitness process, and features:

  • Bar exam study tips
  • Overview of professional responsibility and character and fitness rules
  • Navigating the character and fitness process
  • The Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) as a resource for law students during bar prep and beyond
  • Access to “Study Tips for Bar Takers” Guide
Featured Speakers:
  • Shelley Bethune, Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC)
  • Chelsy Castro, Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
  • Bradley Pollock, Walsh, Knippen, Pollock & Cetina, Chtd.; Chair of Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness for 2nd District
  • Phillip Skaggs, The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS); Co-Chair of YLS Professional Responsibility Committee
  • Danae Weidemann, Barbri, Inc
Click here to register. Complimentary for CBA Law Student Members! Not a Law Student Member of The Chicago Bar Association yet? Join now for only $12 at www.chicagobar.org/jointhecba.

CSO Resources

The Chicago-Kent Career Services Office has access to hundreds of helpful career resources. A majority of these resources are available in Symplicity under the red "Resources" tab (in the "Document Library"). Some of these resources include:

  • 2016-2017 Government Honors and Internship Handbook
  • Chicago Area Law Firm List
  • 2014-2015 Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Rights & Justice
  • Updated Vermont Guide to State Judicial Clerkships
  • BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank
  • DePaul Law School International Guide and Job Resource
  • Music Attorney Registry
  • Prosecution Handbook
  • Public Defender Handbook               
  • Public Interest Job Search Handbooks
  • Various handouts related to the job search, including “Researching Legal Employers,” “The Out of State Job Search,” “Salary Negotiations” and “Writing Samples”

And many more!

Chicago-Kent students can also access various websites like: Policy Jobs (www.policyjobs.net), Political Jobs (www.politicaljobs.net), Human Rights Jobs (www.humanrightsjobs.com) and Ethical Jobs (www.ethicaljobs.net) by using the Login details that can be obtained in the Symplicity "Document Library" (under the Resources tab).

Speak with your Career Advisor about the various resources available through the Career Services Office!

Chicago Bar Association Career Center

The Chicago Bar Career Center is the place to go to find legal industry professionals, jobs, and resources. Legal professionals can search for jobs, post resumes, and browse career resources to help them in all stages of their career. Employers looking for quality candidates can post jobs, search resumes, and connect with prospects. Have you visited a premier resource to connect career opportunities with highly qualified legal professionals - ? Whether you're searching for a new career or searching for a new hire, the CBA Career Center provides multiple avenues to help you achieve your goal.

The CBA Career Center will allow you to:

  • Search and apply to the best legal jobs at firms that value your credentials!
  • Upload your anonymous resume so employers can contact you, but you maintain control of your information and choose to whom you release your information.
  • Receive an alert every time a job becomes available that matches your personal profile, skills, interests, and preferred location(s).
  • Access career resources and job searching tips and tools.
CBA membership is not necessary to access the CBA Career Center. Log on today to search current openings!

CALENDARS

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